Infectious Diseases Graduate Training

The NIH/NIAD supported Infectious Diseases Training Program at the
University of Virginia is in its 4th decade. The Program’s goal is to
provide a rich interdisciplinary experience in cutting edge infectious
diseases research. Research themes include immunology, host
susceptibility to infection, epidemiology, host-pathogen interactions,
and pathogenesis of infectious diseases. The centerpiece of our program
is side-by-side education of predoctoral students, PhD and MD
postdoctoral fellows. The training is enriched by special activities of
the Program, including graduate coursework in infectious diseases, MPH
and MS programs in clinical research, translational journal club,
research-in progress sessions and journal clubs.

The Program
draws from a highly collaborative faculty from eight departments and
two research centers at the School of Medicine. The average Preceptor
has trained > 10 pre- or postdoctoral students, but select "up and
coming" junior faculty are also included. The faculty are well-funded
from both federal and private sources, providing student research
activities with excellent financial and technological support.
Laboratories are well-equipped with modern and sophisticated
instrumentation to enable advanced experimentation.

Training Program Basics

The Predoctoral Infectious Diseases Training Program is oriented
toward providing a strong education and training in interdisciplinary
infectious diseases research that supplements the basic degree
requirements and goals of the degree-granting departments within the
University of Virginia.

Our Ph.D. program typically requires four to six years of study.
Independent research is at the core of the program. During the first
two years, students complete formal course requirements and rotate
through 2-3 different laboratories. Thesis labs and mentors are chosen
after completion of the first year. Once students have selected thesis
laboratories, they become members of the associated department.
Departments participating in the Infectious Diseases Training Program
each have their own criteria to assess student progress. Trainees are
selected in a competitive process after completing the first year of
course work and selection of a research mentor. All students in the
Training Program receive a stipend that is competitive with that
offered by other institutions. Tuition, fees, health insurance and
travel costs to scientific meetings are also covered.

Prospective students should apply for admission through the
Biomedical Sciences Graduate Studies apply-now
site, linked here and in the navigation menu.